CLINICAL TRIALS & RESEARCH
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Financial Toxicity in Cancer Clinical Trials: An Issue in Need of Clarity and Solutions

Publication

Published on: May 12, 2025

Published in: The Journal of Clinical Oncology

Barbara Bierer and Willyanne DeCormier Plosky co-authored an article, led by David Gerber (UT Southwestern), in the Journal of Clinical Oncology titled, “Financial Toxicity in Cancer Clinical Trials: An Issue in Need of Clarity and Solutions.” This work was spearheaded by the Equitable Access to Clinical Trials (EACT) Project, hosted by Lungevity, of which the MRCT Center is one participating organization. The article illustrates some of the non-medical costs that cancer trial participants often pay out-of-pocket, such as an average of $600 US for travel, which are an additional stressor during a difficult time for participants and their families. The authors then detail financial support approaches to address these costs, and special considerations for sponsors, contract research organizations, and sites. Finally, the article highlights recently introduced federal legislation that could significantly ameliorate some of the barriers for sponsors trying to implement financial support approaches and for participants trying to access them.